The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is sending $7.7 million to a railyard in Baker County through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.
U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., announced the federal funds would be headed to Baker County on Thursday.
“The funding will be used for right-of-way acquisition, preliminary engineering, and environmental analysis and documentation, and builds a roughly 72-acre railyard in Baker County, Florida,” the congressman’s office noted. “The railyard will be the anchor for a new transload facility. The project allows Florida Gulf & Atlantic (FGA) to stage trains there instead of hauling all freight 125 miles west to Tallahassee prior to interchange with CSX.”
Yoho weighed in on the funds, insisting they would help the area including with job creation.
“I applaud DOT and their CRISI program for recognizing Baker County as a smart place to invest,” Yoho said. “The new railyard will not only benefit regional commerce, but it will create job opportunities for the rural communities in Baker. Meaningful, targeted, investment helps our economy at all levels. This is money well spent.”
First elected in 2012, Yoho is retiring from Congress this year, fulfilling his campaign pledge to serve only four terms.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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